shadows don't lie

Chapter Twenty-Five

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*Warning! Themes of Sexual Violence are included. Do not read if you are easily triggered!*
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-The day before The Court of Nightmares-

Azriel stood beside Rhys in the lawns of the River Manor, watching as Feyre painted and Elain played with Nyx.

Surprisingly, when Elain had spotted him, she hadn’t turned away. In fact, she had given him a huge smile before returning to Nyx.

Azriel suspected that Inei had been behind it, and before he could even begin to let himself think about her, he turned back towards the topic from beforehand.

“Has Helion told you what he wants to attempt yet? I don’t think we should just let him do whatever he wants.” Rhys winced, his wings moving ever so slightly with the expression. “I don’t plan on it, but he is the one who helped us ward the Trove, and something tells me that he hasn’t told us yet for good reason.”

Azriel hummed. “And Inei? Am I really not to tell her?” He saw something akin to regret flash in his brother’s eyes, and Azriel already knew what was coming.

“You know that we can’t risk something happening. You once told me that she mentioned a ‘him’ that betrayed her. What if it was someone close to Helion, or even the High Lord himself? She’s getting stronger now, and we can’t have anyone or anything hinder that.”

Azriel bit down on the usual loathing he felt at the deception, and Rhys continued on, “You said she wants to go on more missions. Don’t you have to go meet up with your spy in the morning? Take her around and show her how you work. Keep her out for the day while Helion is here and he should be gone by sundown.”

“Are you kidding me Rhys? You want me to take her out and lie to her all day while her High Lord visits? When will this deception end? I grow tired of lying to her, when all she gives in return is trust.”

Rhys set his hand on Azriel’s shoulder, the too-familiar resolve set in his brother’s amethyst eyes. “Just..”

Rhys’s face wavered a little and he looked to where Feyre now watched both males with a sympathetic look on her face. “Just please trust us a little longer, Az. It’ll all make sense soon.”

He knew that Rhys wasn’t asking as his High Lord, but as his brother and friend of 500 years. Azriel bowed his head and fought back the feeling that he was making the wrong decision.

“Just promise me that when it comes time, you’ll let me tell her everything. It’s only fair.”

Rhys nodded, and for the first time in the conversation, he actually smiled. “I swear on the Mother that that time will come, and I promise that it will all be worth it in the end.”

Azriel watched little Nyx roll around in the grass, his little wings flapping excitedly.

He would never be able to let himself tell Rhys the truth of how badly it hurt to lie to Inei. How much it hurt sometimes to see her smile or hear her laugh.

But if his brother felt that it was necessary, if his High Lord felt it was right, then he would bear the pain as he always did.

“Then I’ll bring her tomorrow. I’ve been wanting to take her to meet Hale anyways.” Rhys smiled. “Just don’t work her too hard or she might not like you as much anymore.”

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--Present day--

As Inei took the first step back into the damp coolness that told her she was underground, she had to take a deep breath, and Azriel gave her hand a light squeeze.